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Martin Audio’s Wavefront Precision specified throughout Blackpool Conference and Exhibition Centre

A reconfigurable Martin Audio Wavefront Precision design throughout the new Blackpool Conference and Exhibition Centre is the brainchild of system designer Samuel Williams of Derby-based Media Powerhouse.

The first major building development at the Winter Gardens complex since the construction of the Opera House in 1939, the venue, set on two levels, is one of the largest of its kind in the north of England. It features the necessary infrastructure for hosting modern conferences and exhibitions. Media Powerhouse’s integration includes projection video and smart lighting technology as well as Martin Audio scalable line arrays in each of the eight rooms.

The exhibition space is set on the first floor, with a 2,000-capacity conference space on the second floor. It is conceived as four separate but reconfigurable venues on both floors, with a total 2400 sq.m of reconfigurable space. The space can be combined with other venues throughout the complex to further expand the 7,000 capacity.

Williams, who also acted as the consultant, was aware that the spaces needed to function as both stand-alone spaces, or divided into smaller cells with the partitions removed. This would require the technical infrastructure to be flexible, with presets for all technical services available for each room configuration. He was also aware that the venue would need to cater for a raft of different events - from the recent Conservative Party Conference to pure theatre productions and rock‘n’roll shows.

With assistance from Martin Audio Product Support Engineer Robin Dibble, Williams specified a total of 32 x Martin Audio WPS elements along with their flying frames divided between the eight rooms, 12 x XD12 stage monitors, 32 x Blackline X8 and twelve SX118 subs. In its basic configuration, the processed arrays are powered from Martin Audio iKon iK42 4 channel amplifiers in 2-box resolution, with each pair of array cabinets fed from one amplifier channel. Everything runs on a Dante backbone.

“For each usage there is an individual optimisation for the WPS arrays, carried out in Display 2 and stored in the iKon amplifiers,” explains Williams. “We can recall the optimisations automatically via the venue control system depending on the changing configurations. In the first installation of its kind, when the array is changed, the configurations are recalled through the presets. Every room has a default setting, and everything works automatically; the system just needs to be told what mode it is in, and all incoming production needs to do is to patch into the system.”

“I designed the original layout nearly four years ago”, continues Williams, who was responsible for all programming. “After we bid successfully for the job the contract got delayed for a number of years.” The venue is now being operated by Blackpool Entertainment Co. Ltd.

(Photos: Martin Audio/Media Powerhouse)

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